Great Expectations
Great ExpectationsGREAT EXPECTATIONS. (Charles Dickens) By Anne Gilmour. November 1996.
Of the major themes from Charles Dickens novel "Great
Expectations" to be discussed as to their importance
concerning its structure, I have selected "Love" in the
context of human relationships, "Isolation" and finally
"Redemption". The loneliness isolation brings can only be
redeemed by the loving associate of our fellow man, this is
a two way thing.
"Had grown diseased, as all minds do and must and
will that reverse the appointed order of their maker."
In isolation the greatest sin we commit against
ourselves and others, is to shun human companionship as Miss
Haversham did. After her betrayal in love she hardened her
heart towards her fellow man. By hardening her heart and
suppressing her naturally affectionate nature, she committed
a crime against herself. Miss Havershams love for Compeyson
is of a compassionate kind, this blinded her to his true
nature, as Herbert remarked, "too haughty and too much in
love to be advised by anyone." At Compeysons desertion her
anger and sorrow became extreme and she threw herself and
Satis House into perpetual mourning and a monument to her
broken heart, shutting the world out and herself from the
world. Her only concession is in her adoption of Estella.
Miss Haversham has ulterior motives in adopting
Estella, this is not a loving action on her part, but a
calculated manoeuvre to turn the child into a haughty,
heartless instrument of revenge against men. Estella is
encouraged to practice her disdain on Pip and to break his
heart. Paradoxically, Miss Havershams greatest sin, is
against herself. By hardening her heart she loses her
generous, affectionate nature and becomes withered inside
emotionally. Her punishment is that the heartless young
woman she has made, uses her lack of feelings against Miss
Haversham.
Estella herself is isolated, as for most of the novel
she takes pleasure in her role of avenger. Her isolation is
in part responsible for Pips snobbery and his estrangement
from Joe and Biddy. Like Miss Haversham she becomes a victim
of her own machinations. She enters into a loveless marriage
to Drummle, who is cruel to her. This shows that no matter
how heartless one tries to be, there is always someone more
heartless. The instrument of revenge punishes the avenger
and is punished in return.
Pip feels emotionally and geographically isolated on
his arrival in London. Jaggers isolation is his deliberate
rejection to human involvement, he substitutes these with
the mechanical process of law. Jaggers uses the legal system
to avoid personal responsibility for the fate of his fellow
man. This profession has imprisoned his better instincts,
leaving him isolated within the system. Magwitch, however,
is isolated by the...
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